Popular N.C. Food Truck Settles in to Permanent Spot in Kannapolis

Mar 19, 2016 10:42AM
● By Kevin

With 28 years experience in the restaurant industry, Greg Helmandollar, operator of MasterBacon food truck, officially opened Kannapolis' Crispy's Bar and Grill in October 2015. Aside from his 2-year-long food truck success, Helmandollar's resume includes chef for Mickey & Mooch at Lake Norman (Huntersville) and chef/partner owner of Union Street Bistro - Concord, NC."Trying to keep our truck supporters happy we opened Crispy's Bar and Grill to give them a location in which they could grab some of my food, local, instead of chasing our truck from Raleigh, Fayetteville and surrounding counties," he said.

He found the 3399 Cloverleaf Pkwy location after he was approached at Food Truck Friday, "by what can only be described as a God Send!"

Kenny Propst had a location available, Helmandollar explained, and asked that he check it out. "He can only be described like a silent partner more than a landlord," Helmandollar said. "Cute little spot with an awesome patio area."

Over the five months of its existence, Crispy's has done well, Helmandollar said, with lots of regulars coming back, and a growing supply of newcomers, too.

"Our biggest accomplishment has been through the worst time of the year to open a restaurant, with some sacrifices by my supporting family, we are totally debt free," he said. "I wish I would have had more time on [research and development] for our menu. Going from a food truck to restaurant we had more appetizer and sandwich selections but no real entrees I could start with. Our new menu is being printed now with some more plated options available."

In the short term, the restaurant is hosting live entertainment on the patio and utlizing the food truck for local events. In the next five years, Helmandollar would like to open an additional one or two locations.

"Our food is miles from ordinary but close to home," Helmandollar said of his cuisine. "A little country with a Crispy Twist. Ninety-eight percent of everything has bacon in it or around it. Similar to our food truck."